Storing acetylene gas



CJI

Patented Feb. 17, 1925.

I CHARLES PICARD, 0E GHAMPIGNY-SUR-MARNE, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO SOCIETE I LAIR LIQUIDE, SOCETIL ANONYME PO'IJ'lS'. LETUDE ET LEXPLOITATION DES PROCEDES GEORGES CLAUDE, 0F PARIS, FRANCE,

sronme AGETYLENE ens.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES PICARD, a

citizen of the Republic of France, residing at Champigny-sur-Marne, Department of Seine, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Storing Acetylene Gas, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the storage of acetylene gas, and it comprises an improved method whereby this gas may be safely transported either in a compressed or in a dissolved state.

As is well known, for such transportation the acetylene is compressed in a tank filled with a porous material and with a liquid, such as acetone, which is a solvent for the gas. Various kinds of porous material have been suggested or used; for instance, filamentous material such as silk or kapok, or granulated material such as charcoal alone or mixed with cork.

I have found that the substance known commercially as cofi'erdam which exists in the material surrounding the shells of cocoa-nuts and which is used as a filling in the double walls of ships. is particularly well adapted for use as a filler for acetylene storage tanks. and presents numerous advantages over the porous materials formerly used.

Coflerdam, which is comparatively cheap. is powdered, absorbing, light and elastic. It is, therefore, easily set into the tanks and easily removed from them when they are to he inspected or tested for water-pressure. Its chief advantage is its great porositv which is not possible to attain practically with the other porous materials: it has been found that the weight per liter of the cofi'erdam ready to be charged with acetone and acetylene must be about 150 grams. and in that state its porosity-that is, the proportion of the volume of the empty spaces to the volume of the solids is 90%, whereas it is difiicult with the other materials to practically go beyond 80%. It results that for the same volume of material, the uan-tity of acetone and, therefore, of acety ene which it is possible to store is somewhat more than 12% greater than with the other materials; hence, a less. weight for the same quantity of transported acetylene.

Application filed June 4,

1923. Serial No. 643,479.

Moreover coiierdam necessitates no preliminary preparation, for instance no granulation, and may be employed such as it is when extracted from the shell of the cocoa-nut.

It is obvious that cofferdam may also be used together with other porous materials such as, for instance, asbestos, or with the fibers which are found matted with it on the shells of cocoa-nuts.

I claim:

1. The method of storing acetylene gas which comprises compressing it in cofferdam.

2. The method of storing acetylene gas which comprises compressing it in a mass constituted by the material which surrounds the shells of cocoa-nuts.

3. The method of storing acetylene gas which comprises compressing it in cofi'erdam containing a liquid solvent for the acetylene gas.

4. The method of storing acetylene gas which comprises compressing it in a mass containing a liquid solvent for the acetylene gas and constituted by the material which surrounds the shells of cocoa-nuts.

5. The method of storing acetylene gas which comprises compressing it in a mass containing a liquid solvent for the acetylene gas and constituted by cof'ferdam and an absorbing material.

6. The method of storing acetylene gas which comprises comprcssingit in a mass containing a liquid solvent for the acetylene gas and constituted by an absorbing material together with the material which surrounds the shell of cocoa-nuts.

7. A tank for the storage of acetylene gas containing cofierdam.

8. A tank for the storage of acetylene gas containing the material which surrounds the shells of cocoa-nuts.

9. A tank for the storage of acetylene gas containing cofferdam and a. liquid solvent for the acetylene gas.

10. A tank for the storage of acetylene gas containing the material which surrounds the shells of cocoa-nuts and a liquid solvent for the acetylene gas.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

CHARLES PICARD. 

